Russian dog rides a street car

This dog lives in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Much like the homeless dogs in Moscow who make ample use of the capital's subway, he rides a street car. Always getting on at the same stop, this canine commuter travels to one of the local university's cafeterias. Stays there a while and then returns using the same route.

A disappointing submersible (1886)

The top picture makes one believe that this submarine, known as The Goubet, is a sizable vessel. Far from being so, I'm afraid. A gentleman would have to remove his hat to be comfortable inside this sub, and a gentleman would never do that!

Illustration for a steampunk novel

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have gathered you here so you can observe from a perfect vantage point the destruction of the entire human civilization. Prepare to witness the awesome power of my electrostatic steam-ray gun!", said Prof. Ubelmauer before bursting into maniacal laughter.

The actual image is of the "world's tallest chimney" in Kearny, NJ. I assume that the chimney was not operational at the time.

Watercycles

This looks unsafe for the use in one's swimming pool, let alone on top of the salty brine.

Electric belt

"All in search of health should wear..." I wonder if it's DC or AC.

Deception in advertising

A classic example of a deceptive ad. Unless you read the fine print you will think that the Prince of Wales needs a governess at 1,000 pounds a year. If you look closely, the ad announces an actors benefit. No idea how they managed to get away wit this, especially using the official V. R. logo.

How to sit down without chairs

"A regiment of soldiers sitting as above, and forming a circle, can all rest comfortably on each others knees."

Comfortably, really? How about sitting down on the ground?

Dance on the stump of a sequoia: "without suffering any inconvenience" (1853)

"Upon this stump, however incredible it may seem, on the 4th of July, 32 persons were engaged in dancing four sets of cotillions at one time, without suffering any inconvenience whatever; and, besides these, there were two musicians and lookers on" (Hutchings' Illustrated California magazine, March 1859).

Hors d'oeuvres were served prepared from freshest baby whales!

How to make a pig's head

So, you need to make a pig's head, ugh? Victorian ingenuity to the rescue:

"Fix a glass between the teeth and cover the glass and head with a handkerchief, marking the pig's eyes with ink. Sounds in imitation of a pig will be magnified to a surprising extent by the resonance of the glass."

Seriously, don't try this one at home. You just might look weird or suffocate.

For the ladies: a catamenial sack (1894)

Before the arrival of all those convenient feminine products that one sees advertised on TV, Victorian inventors fiddled with a plethora of designs similar to this one. The term for this contraption is catamenial sack. Easy to see how it works... This particular one was designed by Eliza Kirwin, so at least one woman must have used it.

"New Shaving Machine"

Representation of the NEW SHAVING MACHINE, whereby a number of Persons may be done at the same time with expedition, ease and safety. Manufactured and Sold by D.Merry and Son. Birmingham.

TO THE PUBLIC 

Whereas the wonderful powers of this useful Machine are yet but little known, and even doubted by those who have not seen it, the Inventor has for their satisfaction prefixed a Plate representing his Shaving and Dressing Room with six Customers sitting. Pledges himself that his Machine will be foud to do its work in the most safe, smooth and efficacious manner with three scrapes or movements and that those who shall have once tried it will no longer entertain any doubts on the subject, but will smile at the thoughts of being again shaved in the ordinary manual way. The Large Machine, including brushes, cheek and chin razors, completely fitted for shaving from one to twenty persons at a time - seven guineas - and small ones for Gentlemen's private use at three guineas each - The Large Machines are particularly recommended to the Barbers in Fortified and Manufacturing Towns and Villages, on account of their expedition.

REFERENCES to the Print & EXPLANATION 

A. a small barel of Soap Suds. B. Soap brush. C. the razor. D. the Master of the shop who directs the position of his Customers' faces. Here his is desiring the Gentleman with the large nose to keep it more to the left, that it may be out of the way. The Pinion wheel E. being turned round, the Machine H. is put in motion & brought to E. and in passing along, the brush, followed by the razor, performs on the right cheek. The faces, the brush & the razor being then reversed a contrary motion of the Wheel does left the left Cheek. And the faces being again turned to the front, the fore beard is done by the instrument at I. which finishes the shaving. - The Boy on the foreground is employed in the ordinary & tedious mode of dressing a Wig. The inventor of the Shaving machine hopes soon to present a much more expeditious Plan of dressing, part of which is exhibited by the Figure on the background discharging the hair powdering gun along the line of Wigs - Seated near him, is a Gentleman already dressed reading the Newspaper - And behind him is a Stranger whose doubts are removed by seeing the ease and safety of the Shaving operation. 

This was obviously a joke, but it should create some respect towards the shaving tools that we enjoy in our technologically advanced age.

Napoleon learning the English language (original grammar drills in Bonaparte's handwriting)

Avez-vous faim?
Are you hungry?

Êtes-vous en colère?
Are you angry?

Banished to the British island of St. Helena, Napoleon spent considerable time learning English. This playing card is an example of his grammar exercises. Above you can observe an attempt to grasp the difference between hungry and angry. Chances are, Napoleon's accent sounded very similar to the ex-emperor's portrayal in Woody Allen's Love and Death.



1. How do you do, sir - madam?
Comment vous portez-vous, Monsieur?

2. Bonjour, Monsieur - bonne nuit.
Good day, sir - good night.

3. D'où venez-vous?
From where do you come?

4. When did you leave England?
Quand êtes-vous parti d'Angleterre?

Silent shave

Supposedly, the barbers in diving helmets can see and hear, but they cannot talk. I can think of a number of other things that would work. One of them is represented by the sign on the wall: "A talking barber gathers no spondulicks." You guessed right, the rather obscure word (also spelled spondulix) means money. As a piece of social history, notice a small boy working at the barber's shop, also wearing a helmet. Child labor everywhere!

Submarine tricycle

I suppose with proper ballast this could work...

Pneumatic skate

"An American Lady-Acrobat Walking Head-downwards by Means of the Pneumatic Skate." Did this really happen?

Cycle Railway

Cone of death?

For those in search of new sensations: "It is an immense cone, designed to carry a cargo of fifteen passengers, and to fall from a lofty tower into a well of water. The tower is 300 yards high, and the swiftness of the descent is more than double that of the most rapid express train: the well is about 60 yards deep."

Got noisy children?

Glass covers for noisy children. One size fits all!

Teleautograph

Best invention I have seen in a while!

Ocean tricycle

"The cycle when travelling does not roll or pitch like a steamer, but allows its passengers to enjoy themselves without the fear of sea-sickness."

It looks to me that some ballast would be needed. Otherwise the whole thing would be perilously unstable.